BPO company, to venture in Naga City

By Analiza S. Macatangay

NAGA CITY, April 30 (PIA) -- Soon to join the big names in the business in this city is the IBM-Global Process Services (IBM-GPS), one of the fast-growing business process outsourcing company in the country.

The IBM-GPS building will soon at the Central Business District (CBD) II at Barangay Trianggulo here and will be IBM’s first extension site outside of Metro Manila.

Mayor John Bongat of this city said when completed and operations commenced for this BPO venture, it spells job opportunities for the Nagueños and job seekers in its neighboring towns.

“This city was chosen among the 15 other cities considered for putting up the venture. And, We are grateful for this opportunity that will not only bring employment to the locals but also business prospects to a lot of our entrepreneurs and businessmen, “ Bongat said.

Inaugurated on the 2nd week of April, the building will occupy the 12,000- square meter lot that formerly served as the UV Van Express and jeep terminal, now also declared among areas of Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) as it endeavors to promote a globally competitive, sustainable business environment and provide employment to Filipinos in various parts of the country.

IBM-GPS, through a resolution passed by the members of the Sangguniang Panglungsod on March 26, will enjoy incentives such as tax holiday alongside with its declaration as the PEZA Information Technology Park/ Center.

IBM-GPS is a multinational IBM corporation with corporate headquarters in New York. It employs almost 4,000 employees based in different parts of the globe. It also endeavors to assist the government in ensuring that services are delivered effectively through efficient management of the economic zones and focusing on a upbeat developmental programs in tune with the development plans of the Aquino administration. (MAL/LSM-PIA5/Camarines Sur)


Search for Bicol’s outstanding barangay nutrition scholars on

By Monaliza Z. Eser

LEGAZPI CITY, April 30 (PIA) -- The National Nutrition Council (NNC) regional office here has been assessing entries for the regional outstanding barangay nutrition scholars (BNS) that have shown or achieved exemplary performance and achievements in pursuit of nutrition programs and initiatives.

The council will choose from among 3,600 BNS from the six provinces and seven cities of Bicol, NNC Bicol Regional Director Arlene Reario said.

Reario explained that giving recognition to outstanding regional, municipal and city BNS serves as a tool in monitoring and evaluation of the performance of BNS.

The awards program, according to her, is an integral function of the council to assess and enhance their efficiency and effectiveness in responding to the tasks mandated to them.

A BNS, as mandated by Presidential Decree 1569 of 1978, is a barangay-based volunteer worker who facilitates the delivery basic nutrition and related health services, and links community development projects with nutrition and related service providers.

Reario said that the council has organized three teams among the Regional Nutrition Committee (RNC) and the Provincial Nutrition Committee (PNC) to evaluate the BNS performance in the cities, municipalities, and provinces of the region.

The three teams include city and municipal evaluation teams tasked to assess the BNS performance in their respective localities who have served for at least two consecutive years, while the provincial evaluation team to select the provincial outstanding BNS.

The regional evaluation team will validate the performance and choose among the top performers in each province and city to be the regional outstanding BNS.

Evaluation, Reario said, will cover an assessment of the efficiency and effectiveness of the BNS.

Efficiency includes ability to meet targets set by the BNS in the delivery of basic nutrition and related services; identification and location of target groups; and records management. Effectiveness refers to the changes in the nutritional status of identified severely and moderately underweight preschool children served by the BNS.

City outstanding BNS will receive a cash prize of P3,000 and provincial winner will receive P4,000.

The regional outstanding BNS will receive a cash prize of P8,000 and a trophy, while the first runner-up and second runner-up will receive a plaque of recognition and gift check of P2,000 and P1,000, respectively.

The outstanding regional BNS could join the top eight National Outstanding BNS chosen among 38,000 BNS nationwide and could also be chosen to take home the National Outstanding BNS Award, an award given by the National Nutrition Council to Barangay Nutrition Scholars across the country.

Last 2010, Marilou Cañete of Barangay Concepcion Grande, Naga City won the National Outstanding BNS and received a trophy, a cash prize and a desktop computer with printer set given by AGHAM Partylist. (MAL/MZE-OJT-BU/PIA5)